CBP Officials Discuss the 100% Scanning Pilot and GTX at February 2008 COAC Meeting
During the February 13, 2008 meeting of the Departmental Advisory Committee on Commercial Operations of U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Related Homeland Security Functions (COAC)1, CBP officials discussed, among other things, the 100% scanning pilot and Global Trade Exchange (GTX) aspects of the Secure Freight Initiative2.
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100% Scanning Pilot is Expanding to Four Additional Ports
According to CBP officials, CBP's pilot of 100% scanning of all U.S.-bound maritime containers for nuclear or other radiological materials is fully operational in three ports - Qasim, Pakistan; Southampton, United Kingdom; and Puerto Cortez, Honduras.
CBP officials note that although they are still dealing with difficult issues related to transshipments and system reliability, data is being successfully transmitted to the National Targeting Center (NTC). Officials further note that the 100% scanning process is adding 2-3 minutes to container cycling times.
CBP has begun the process of implementing 100% scanning in four additional ports on a limited capacity basis (Hong Kong (Modern Terminal); Singapore (Brani Terminal); Busan, Korea (Gamman Terminal); and Salalah, Oman.3 CBP officials note that because Salalah, Oman is a big port for transshipments, it will be a good test of the 100% scanning process.
CBP is Finalizing and Reviewing its February Report to Congress
CBP officials stated that they are working to finalize their report on 100% scanning that they are required to submit to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees in February 2008. According to CBP officials, CBP's report to the House Homeland Security Committee, which is due in April 2008, will contain information regarding lessons learned from the test of 100% scanning at all seven ports.
CBP Has Received Multiple Bids for its GTX Pilot
In December 2007, CBP announced that a Request for Quotation was issued to eligible Enterprise Acquisition Gateway for Leading-Edge Solutions (EAGLE) vendors for a GTX4 pilot. Vendor responses to the RFQ were due by January 22, 2008.
According to CBP officials, multiple bids were submitted in response to the RFQ and CBP has assembled a team to review them from a technical perspective. Officials note that the technical review, which has been ongoing since late January 2008, is expected to be completed by the end of February 2008.
At the meeting, CBP officials added that because GTX is still in the "request for quotation" process, they are limited as to what they can say.
(Although trade participation in the GTX pilot will be voluntary, CBP officials noted that the trade may be solicited by the selected vendor(s) to participate.)
1Formerly known as the "Commercial Operations Advisory Committee."
2SFI, a layered, risk-based strategy for supply chain security, is comprised of three components: International Container Scanning (100% scanning), Advance Trade Data (102), and GTX.
3CBP has previously noted that although 100% scanning will be operational at only one terminal in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Busan, they are very high volume ports.
4GTX is envisioned as a privately operated, self-sustaining (e.g. user-fee based) trade information system that would collect commercial transaction data not currently availablefrom supply chain parties who have contracted or provided services for the production/movement of international shipments. GTX would allow the trade and government to voluntarily input and access trade data through an information broker on an expanded global basis. Data maintained by the GTX broker would be available to participating customs agencies 24 hours a day/7 days a week in the appropriate technical format.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 02/21/08 news, 08022105, for BP summary of the February 2008 COAC meeting discussions on the third component of SFI - 102.
See ITT's Online Archives or 11/28/07 news, 07112810, for BP summary of the discussion of GTX and 100% scanning at the November 2007 COAC meeting.
See ITT's Online Archives or 11/20/07 news, 07112005, for BP summary of the DHS Secretary's speech on GTX and other security initiatives at CBP's 2007 Annual Trade Symposium.
See ITT's Online Archives or 01/09/08 news, 08010905, for BP summary of the GTX RFQ.
See ITT's Online Archives or 02/22/08 news, 08022299 1, for previous BP summary on the system reliability problems, etc. experienced during CBP's 100% scanning pilot.)